Everything is not what it seems

Everything is NOT what is SEEMS

Hinge word- Seems

INTRO: Let me have you ponder a question: Have you ever been deceived by the appearance of something? Take the Trojan horse for example, in the mid evil days this was given as a gift or sign of peace. But in reality these were loaded with Soldiers used for attack. (Y’all know the story…)

Often times in life we have

tIllustration - The way i see it, VIPERs…can come in many forms, many sizes and in many shapes. We need to be aware that we may not and I submit, We Are Not Able To Recognize A Viper when we see one. WE spent a couple of minutes looking up the definition of the word and were pleasantly surprised with what we found and what we read. The Bottom line is… We May Think we see something one way; and it completely something else.

WE WANT TO SHARE THREE POINTS WITH YOU THIS AFTERNOON

POINT 1: Barbaric (the stigma for barbarians is that they are crude and rude and violent)

King James Version Chapter 28

And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one

1)People have preconceived notions of people just based on looks or what is told of them. ALIB

2)People have preconceived notions that people in church will treat them any kind of way. (They assume that if they are not right with their lives that they can’t go to church until they get it right)

3)People come to church expecting to be loved and they leave not feeling any love. Not talking about Highview Christian Fellowship

POINT 2:Heat (the cold environment left the snake stiff and lethargic, but the heat made the snake more active)

King James Version Chapter 28

because of the present rain, and because of the cold.

1)How do you respond when you are in middle of the fire?

2)You will either respond with Faith or FEAR

POINT 3: Viper (it appeared as though he should have died from the bite but he did not)

King James Version Chapter 28

Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god

King James Version Chapter 28

And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. 6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

King James Version Chapter 28

because of the present rain, and because of the cold.

King James Version Chapter 28

because of the present rain, and because of the cold.

Illustration of viper

tation of viper

1.)Your faith has to be sure!! His reaction was based on the fact that his faith was Sure, that in God nothing would effect him or harm him.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Illustration of the viper

CONCLUSION: Things are not what they seem. They thought that he was a man calling himself god but he was the SON of God.

A lot of times when folks see what we go through they think it is a response of what we did. When in reality it has everything to do with the PROCESS that God has for us.

Let me tell you about the real God, the Big “G” God!